Browner served a four-game suspension in 2012 for violating the performance-enhancing drugs policy. He initially tried to appeal that suspension but dropped it. He missed four regular-season games, but was back with the Seahawks for the playoffs.

This suspension is unrelated and likely signals the end of his career in Seattle. Browner is set to become a free agent in 2014, and this suspension would stretch until late next year.

Browner was already expected to miss much, if not all, of the rest of Seattle's regular-season games this year with a groin injury.

According to the NFL's substance abuse policy, a one-year suspension is punishment for a player who had advanced to the third (and final) stage of the drug program. A player advances to that stage after multiple prior violations of the policy, which could be a positive drug test, a missed drug test or other issues with a test.